| Duration: | 13 Day(s) - 12 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Mountaineering |
Activities:
Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering, Sightseeing.
Necessary Equipment: Sleeping bag (com.-1), backpacking boots, poles, Warms apparel.
Trip Highlights:
Climbing Mt.Sabalan(4811m) Visiting Shahsavan Nomads, Anzali wetland, Roudkhan Castle Masouleh village, Alamout & the castles of the Assassins.
Sightseeing, Masouleh, Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz.
Description:
Sabalan is Volcano Mountain in Ardabil province, North West of Iran.
It is the third-highest peak in Iran. On the summit, you see a big and beautiful volcano lake that distinguishes this mountain from others. In summer Shahsavan nomads immigrate to the slope of Sabalan and stay there till the end of summer.
Also because Sabalan is a nonactive volcano, you see different Hot Springs (SPA) on the Sabalan slope, and people use them for hydrotherapy. Sarein is a small mountainous city on the slope of Sabalan full of Hot Springs and famous in the Middle East.
Day 01: Tehran /Iran capital City (Arrival)
After welcoming the group at the Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport, The group will transfer directly to the domestic airport and fly to Ardabil. We fly in 45 minutes to Ardabil.
Check in to a hotel in the center of Ardabil. After lunch, we visit the historical Sheikh Safi Ad-Din mausoleum. We stay overnight at the hotel and eat local Azary food. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 02: Shabil
We wake up early morning and have local natural honey and butter for breakfast then we go by car to Shabil (2500m). We climb the normal route, northeast. Shabil is a famous spa and is the beginning point of our trekking. It takes 2 hours from the hotel to Shabil. We send our backpacks with the car (4WD) to the shelter and start our hiking with a light backpack. Our hiking route is green and full of flowers and it’s not very steep.
During hiking, we visit Shahsavan Nomads and we can have a meal in their traditional tent that is made from sheep wool. Our trekking way is 4 hours. The shelter altitude is 3800m. In the evening we go up for one hour for good acclimatization and return to stay in the shelter. For dinner, we have light food and sleep early. F/B
Day 03: Trekking Day
We wake up at 5 am take a simple breakfast and start our trekking. The route is not so hard but the weather is cold. On the way, we see volcanic stones and sands in different shapes. After 4 hours we reach the summit.
On the summit, you see the amazing lake in the Sabalan volcano bowl. It’s about 100m* 70m and in deep part is 50m. Most time it’s frozen but in July and August the ice melts and you see very clean water. At the top, we walk and see other routes. We rest and enjoy ourselves beside the lake and after taking pictures we go down.
Our descent takes 2 hours and we have lunch in the shelter and return to Shabil by car.
In Shabil we go swimming in a hot spring and after that, you will be so relaxed, you forget that you climbed Sabalan. We go to our hotel in Ardabil and stay there overnight. F/B
Day 04: Caspian Sea
Our next destination is to visit the Caspian Sea shore, Bandar Anzali wetland with the famous Nenuphar marsh (water-lily), Masouleh city, and Roudkhan castle. So we start our trip via Ardabil- Astara road. We travel beside the Azerbaijan border and after 3 hours stop in Gisoum sea shore and swim in the Caspian Sea.
We continue our trip to Bandar Anzali, a famous port in the Caspian Sea to visit wetlands. We eat our lunch there (Seafood) and go by boat to visit the wetland nenuphar (water- -lily) and also wetland birds. This wetland is protected and the Iranian environment protection organization controls it.
After visiting the wetland and fish market we go to visit Masouleh village which is famous for its special architecture. We visit the city and stay in the local old guest house. Bed and Breakfast.
Day05: Fouman City
From Masouleh we travel to Fouman City and then continue our trip to visit ancient and interesting Roudkhan Castle. It’s amazing and large mountain fortresses in Gilan province. We get out of the car and hike inside the forest for one hour and visit this castle.
After visiting the castle we eat lunch and Drive to Qazvin via Rasht-Qazvin Road and make our camp beside a small and beautiful mountainous lake (Ovan Lake). Overnight Tent F/B
Day 06: Alamout
We visit Alamout & the castles of the Assassins. This castle is from the 11 century and Hasan-Sabbah the leader of the group uses them to murder or kidnap political and religious figures. In the evening we drive to Tehran and stay overnight in the Hotel, in the center of Tehran. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 07: Tehran
Full-day sightseeing Tehran, Traditional Bazaar, Archaeological museum, Glassware & Ceramic Museum, Niavaran palace. Overnight Hotel Bed & Breakfast.
Day 08: Shiraz
Early in the morning Transfer to Tehran domestic Airport and fly to Shiraz directly for an excursion to Persepolis & Naghsh-e-Rostam (Royal tombs of Achamanideas). In the afternoon visit Hafez's tomb (Great Iranian poet). Overnight Hotel. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 09: Shiraz Sightseeing
Full-day sightseeing Shiraz, traditional Bazaar of Vakil, holy shrine of Shah-e-Cheragh, Narenjestan Garden. In the evening transfer to Shiraz airport Departure Shiraz to Isfahan. Transfer to Hotel. overnight Hotel. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 10: Isfahan Sightseeing
Full-day sightseeing Isfahan, Chelsotoun (40 columns)Palace, Meidane Naghsh-e-Jahan(Imagine of the world square), Jamee mosque & Shah mosque, Bazaar. In the evening walk alongside side Zayandehroud riverside .overnight Hotel. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 11: Isfahan Sightseeing
Full-day sightseeing Isfahan, Vank cathedral, Julfa place, Chahar Bagh street, Shaking minarets. In the evening visit Zorkhaneh (Traditional Iranian sport). overnight Hotel. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 12: Tehran
Drive to Tehran via Kashan & Abiyaneh(visit there)overnight Hotel. Bed & Breakfast.
Day 13: Departure
Transfer to Tehran Airport. Departure to home.
